NOTE: As of October 2021, this podcast is no longer publishing new episodes; however, you can download mp3 files of all existing episodes at these show notes posts on the blog.
From her desire to be a vet growing up, her immense love for her cat, Ginger, and her passion for animal rights, Shriya Swaminathan was born to serve the animals.
While in school at UC San Diego, a speaker from a pharma company guest lectured in one of Shriya’s classes. Shriya asked about the possibility of eliminating animal testing and was told, “if you could figure out the answer to that, you would be a billionaire.” This sparked her passion for learning about other ways of testing products other than testing on animals— which led Shriya first into a doctoral program, and ultimately down a winding path to her current work as a full-time animal activist.
Now a research associate for PETA, vegan hospitality consultant ( Nourish by Shriya), writer for VegWorld Magazine, and mentor at Animal Activism Mentorship, Shriya lives and breathes animal liberation. This conversation will motivate and inspire you to learn more about veganism beyond food, and will encourage you to find your joy and remember that sometimes we have to be willing to zig and zag to get there.
To listen to this episode, download the mp3 file HERE.
About Shriya Swaminathan
Shriya is an animal rights activist at PETA’s Laboratory Investigations Department. She is also a trained Vegan Hospitality Consultant and founder of Nourish by Shriya- her new consulting service that helps businesses attract vegan clients. She enjoys travel and exploring local vegan cuisines in the cities she visits! She volunteers with the Agriculture Fairness Alliance- a plant-powered lobbying group that aims to promote equity in farm policy, redirect subsidies towards climate-friendly, plant-based agriculture, and assisting animal farmers in their transition to consumer crop production. Shriya recently joined the Animal Activism Mentorship team as a mentor where she helps new activists identify their interests and use their talents to help the animals.
In her free time, you can find her hanging out with the residents at the Gentle Barn Sanctuary, while educating folks about the abundance of a vegan lifestyle. Her precious companion pooch Halley joins her activism on the #adoptdontshop message!